Ditching-machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN WOOLFOLK, OF IVERVILLE PARISH, LOUISIANA.

DITCHING-IVIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,404, dated March 6, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN IVOOLFOLK, of the parish of Iberville, State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-lVIachines, of which the followino' is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification,.in which- Figure l, represents a perspective view of a ditching machine embracing my improvements. Fig. 2, represents a side elevat-ion of my machine. Fig. 3, represents a rear elevation of the same.

The object of my improvements in ditching machines is to vary the slope of the ditch as circumstances may require, to retain the earth in an unbroken mass on the excavator in order to facilitate its being carried over the top surface, and to simplify the arrange-- ment of the mechanism for delivering the earth excavated directly on the side of the ditch; and my invention for effecting these objects consist-s in extending the gage plate rearward over the top of the excavator to form a throat through which the earth passes and by which 1t is compressed and thereby prevented from being broken up in its passage over the top of the excavator, to the deliverer; and it also consists in combining with the excavator an adjustable sloper connected to the plow by means of a hinged joint so that it may be set at any angle and thus give any desired slope to the sides of the ditch; and it also consists in arranging a single endless carrier at right angles to the excavator and extending across the end of the same to receive the earth directly from the excavator and deposit it upon the side of the ditch without the aid of an intermediate carrying band as heretofore used; and it further consists in jointing the frame work of the carrier at a point outside of the excavator so that without varying the inclination of the carrier across the end of the excavator the inclination of the carrier out side of the excavator may be changed to accommodate it to the varying depth of the ditch while being excavated without obstructing the delivery of the earth from the excavator to the carrier; and it also consistsin combining with the endless carrying band, a pressure roller arranged on the upper surface of the band, in order to compress the earth, so as to form a continuous sheet, and thus diminish the liabilityof its sliding back on the carrying band.

In the accompanying drawing is represented a ditching machine embracing my improvements, which consists of a triangular frame (A) of proper width and length to which is attached an inclined excavator (B) which terminates at its lower end in a triangular knife edge (C). The extended point or apex of the angle of the knife is placed on the draft side of the excavator to facilitate the entrance of the center into the soil and preserve the alinement of the plow. A sloping knife (D) with a curved scoop (I) to receive the earth and throw it on the inclined face of the excavator, is attached to the side of the cutter. This knife is hinged at its lower end to the bottom of the frame and provided with a curved arm (a) passing through an eye in the beam of the plow in which it is held by a clamp screw (b). By means of this arm and screw the inclination of the sloping knife may be changed to vary the slope of the side 'of the ditch. On the opposite side of the excavator is a vertical knife (E) to cut the soil on that side. A gage for regulating the thickness of the slice cut by the knife is attached to the frame above the inclined face of the excavator. The lower end of this gage extends forward beyond the edge of the cutting knife and rests upon the surface of the ground. This gage is made adjustable and may be raised or lowered to vary the distance between it and the edge of the knife in order to regulate the'thickness of the slice cut, and it also extends back over the top of the excavator, and forms a throat through which the earth passes, as it is cut, up the inclined plane, by which means the earth is prevented from being broken up, and is carried backward in a compact mass over the top of the excavator. A carrying band (Gr) to receive the earth extends across the rear end of the excavator and around a frame (H) which is jointed to the frame of the cutter at a point outside with a joint pivot (h) passing over the upper surface of the band, so that the outer end of the frame may be raised or lowered and with it the carrying band without varying the inclination of the band across the end of the excavator. At

the point at which the carrying band frame is hinged to the frame of the excavator, a roller (E) is placed, between which and the band the earth passes as it is delivered, and by which it is compressed, rendered more compact and prevented from sliding back as it is carried forward. This roller also prevents the inclination of the band across the rear end of the excavator being changed when the upper part is varied for dierent depths of ditches.

I do not confine myself to the precise form, construction or arrangement of the parts described as these may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. Instead of one sloping knife, a sloping knife may be attached to both sides of the excavator, and instead of a plate being used to adjust the thickness of the slice out by the plow, a frame with a series of rollers may be substituted, the front roller extending forward beyond the point of the plow to adjust the depth of the cut, and the rear rollers extending backward over the inclined surface of the excavator to form a throat. A triangular hole may be cut through the throat plate so that the earth removed by the sloping knife will fall upon and be carried backward by the earth passing through the throat. The gage and throat plate may be made to yield to allow stones or roots to pass through.

Having thus described my improvements in ditching machines what I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

l. The combinationI of the inclined excavator with an adjustable throat plate or its equivalent so arranged as to prevent the earth from breaking and deliver it in a sheet to the carrying band.

2. In combination with the excavator I claim the adjustable sloper jointed to the side of the excavating plow substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the inclined excavator I claim the continuous carrying band arranged across the end of the inclined plane extending outside the same and at right angles thereto, to receive the earth substantially as described.

4. Arranging the joint pivot of the frame of the continuous carrying band extending across the end of the excavator substantially as described so as to prevent the inclination of the band being changed at the rear of the inclined excavator when the inclination of the band is varied outside of the frame, of the excavator.

5. The combination of a. carrying band with a pressure roller arranged substantially as described to compress the earth on the band so as to form a continuous sheet, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name.

AUsriN woo'LroLK.

Witnesses:

M. V. B. RADCLIFFE, F. S. SMITH. 

